END HIV stigma Grant Glover Kokoda
Dear Friends, Family and Comrades,
I’m about to go on an amazing adventure that will hopefully make a difference in the world. And I’d like to bring you all along for the ride; because we are always better, when we work together.
On the 12th of June, we will be travelling to Papua New Guinea to take on the Kokoda Trail as part of the #StrongerThanYouThink campaign. Our mission is simple: to challenge the wider community perception that people living with HIV are in any way “weaker” than anyone else, and inspire anyone going through a struggle that they can overcome the toughest of hurdles.
As some of you know, approximately 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with HIV. While the virus has had no noticeable effect at all on my physical health, the stigma attached to it has had a hugely deleterious effect on my mental health and wellbeing. For nearly 25,000 other Australians, this reality is much the same.
Physically, I take one pill a day and my immune system is as strong are anyone else’s. I'm undetectable which means I cannot infect anyone else. This is the same for most people living with HIV, so why are we still stuck in the past: the stigma is just plain misguided and ignorant. WE CAN'T HURT YOU.
Why Kokoda
For me, dealing with an HIV diagnosis has been a challenge, truthfully one that I am still fighting. It is a sad reality that for others like me, it is often a very isolating and lonely experience; and with your help, I’d like to contribute to putting a stop to it.
The Kokoda trek is truly one of the hardest most challenging things you can accomplish here in Australia, so by conquering the trail I hope to inspire the community to be Stronger Than You Think. Friendship, mateship and comradery are such important values for our society, and values which the Kokoda carries.
What do I hope to achieve?
Documentary: To raise awareness throughout the entire community that people with HIV can do anything! The central output from the project is a full feature documentary which will follow our team before we go, on the trek and our return (hopefully still alive!)
- Awareness: To challenge misguided fear and ignorance around undetectable people’s ability to infect others.(Undectectable = Uninfectious)
- To listen and help share the stories and struggles of our PNG positive brothers and sisters.
- To recommit to a bond forged in war that will never be forgotten.
- To comprehend what it is like to be a positive person in a developing country. I to know how lucky I truly am.
Thank you so much to everyone who can help donate, share and like this online. Every donation counts, whether it’s $5 or $500. And if you can’t afford it, a SHARE is just as valuable in my books
Love,
Grant.
